LIHUE — A Lihue man could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for taking a hotel golf cart for a joy ride.

Jerwin C. Halog, 21, pleaded guilty last week to the Class C felony of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano and has asked the court to grant a motion for a deferred acceptance of guilty plea that could mean he serves little or no prison time and may have his record cleared if he doesn’t commit any more crimes.
The propelled vehicle was a golf cart that Halog admitted to taking from the Brennecke’s Beach Broiler parking lot in Poipu during an early morning in mid-2008.
A police officer pulled Halog over while Halog was driving the cart on a public road.
Valenciano asked Halog why he was pleading guilty, and Halog said, “I did it. I’m guilty.”
Hawaii law provides for dismissal of charges and clearing of criminal records when a defendant voluntarily pleads guilty and is not likely in the court’s opinion to again engage in criminal conduct.
Valenciano set a mid-January 2010 court date on the motion for the deferred acceptance of guilty plea and sentencing.